Corn sheller

ABSTRACT

A corn sheller comprising a frame means having a first pneumatic roller means rotatably mounted thereon about a horizontal axis and having a second pneumatic roller means rotatably mounted thereon about a horizontal axis which is spaced from the first roller means to define a feed opening therebetween. A feed hopper is positioned above the feed opening for feeding corn ears thereto. An arcuate concave means is positioned below the feed opening and extends downwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship with respect to the periphery of the first roller means. A power means is connected to the first and second roller means for rotating the same in the same direction whereby the first and second roller means will cause a corn ear to pass downwardly through the feed opening so that the longitudinal axis of the corn ear will be parallel to the rotational axis of the first roller means. The space between the concave means and the periphery of the first roller means is such that radial compressive forces are applied to the corn ear to loosen the kernels thereon without damage thereto. The concave means is comprised of a plurality of parallel rods which are adapted to cooperate with the first roller means to apply the radial compressive forces to the corn ear.

United States Patent Brass 51 May 16, 1972 [54] CORN SHELLER [72]Inventor: Ronald W. Brass, Ackley, lowa [73] Assignee: Iowa StateUniversity Research Founda- Primary Examiner-Antonio F. GuidaAn0rney--Zarley, McKee & Thomte [57] ABSTRACT A com sheller comprising aframe means having a first pneumatic roller means rotatably mountedthereon about a horizontal axis and having a second pneumatic rollermeans rotatably mounted thereon about a horizontal axis which is spacedfrom the first roller means to define a feed opening ,therebetween. Afeed hopper is positioned above the feed opening for feeding corn earsthereto. An arcuate concave means is positioned below the feed openingand extends downwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship with respectto the periphery of the first roller means. A power means is connectedto the first and second roller means for rotating the same in the samedirection whereby the first and second roller means will cause a cornear to pass downwardly through the feed opening so that the longitudinalaxis of the corn car will be parallel to the rotational axis of thefirst roller means. The space between the concave means and theperiphery of the first roller means is such that radial compressiveforces are applied to the corn ear to loosen the kernels thereon withoutdamage thereto. The concave means is comprised of a plurality ofparallel rods which are adapted to cooperate with the first roller meansto apply the radial compressive forces to the corn ear.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented May 16, 1972 jig 6 CORN SHELLERConventional corn shellers generally employ cooperating metal cylinderand concave assemblies to shell the kernels from the ears. Theconventional shellers damage the kernels due to the external scratchingor scraping applied thereto by the cylinder and concave assembly.Further, the conventional shellers do not have satisfactory means forproperly positioning or orientating the corn ears as they passtherethrough so as to insure efficient shelling.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide animproved corn sheller.

A further object of this invention is to provide a corn sheller havingan integral ear orientation system.

A further object of this invention is to provide a corn shelleremploying a pneumatic roller which cooperates with a concave assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a corn sheller havingan improved means for removing the'kernels from the ears.

A further object of this invention is to provide a corn sheller whichreduces damage to the kernels. I

A further objectof this invention is to provide a corn sheller whichremoves the kernels from theears by creating an interaction among thekernels.

A further object of this invention is to provide a corn sheller whichincludes a pair of pressure adjustable pneumatic rollers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a corn sheller which iseconomical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a top perspective view of the sheller of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the sheller.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the sheller with portions thereofcut away to more fully illustrate the invention.

. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a corn ear.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a corn ear illustrating the interactionamongst the kernels upon radial compressive force being applied thereto.

FIG.6 is aview similar to FIG. 5 except that radial compressive forcehas been applied to one row of the kernels. v

'The. corn sheller of this invention is generally designated by thereference numeral 10 and comprises generally a frame means 12 having aremovable housing 14 positioned thereon. Frame means 12 includes ahorizontal frame 16 supported by a plurality of legs 18. Shaft 20 isrotatably mounted on the frame 16 about a horizontal axis and is adaptedto be connected to a power-take-off shaft 22 extending from a tractor orthe like. A pneumatic primary roller 24 having a substantially smoothouter peripheral surface 25 is mounted on shaft 20 within the frame 16for rotation therewith and is inflatable to carry the pressure therein.

A concave carrier assembly 26 is horizontally slidably mounted on theframe member 28 of frame 16. A concave carrier assembly 26' is alsoslidably mounted on the frame member 30 of frame 16 and is identical tothe concave carrier assembly 26. Concave carrier adjusting cranks 32 and34 extend through frame member 36 of frame 16 and are connected to theconcave carrier assemblies 26 and 26' to provide an adjustment means forthe concave carrier assembly.

Shaft 38 is rotatably mounted in and extends between the upper ends ofthe concave carrier assemblies 26 and 26' and has a pneumaticorientation roller 40 has a substantially smooth outer peripheralsurface 41 andis mounted thereon.

Roller 40 is inflatable to provide a means for varying the pressuretherein. Pulley 42 is mounted on the shaft 38 and receives a belt 44extending therearound. Belt 44 also extends around a pulley 46 securedto shaft 20 so that rotation of shaft 20 causes the rotation of shaft38. The numeral 48 refers to a springtension belt idler to maintain thenecessary tension in the belt 44.

The numeral 50 refers to an adjustable concave which is operativelypivotally connected at its upper end to the concave carrier assemblies26 and 26' and which extends downwardly therefromin the mannerillustrated in FIG. 3. A concave adjusting arm assembly 52 is connectedto the concave 50 and is selectively controlled by the concave adjustinghandle assembly 54 to provide a means for moving the concave 50 withrespect to the periphery of the roller 24 to vary the spacetherebetween. Concave 50 is comprised of a frame.

means 56 having a plurality of spaced apart parallel rods 58 supportedthereon. A feeder hopper 60 is operatively secured to the frame means 16and is adapted to contain a plurality of corn cars 62 therein to feedthe same downwardly into the feed opening space 64 between the rollers24 and 40.

In operation, the corn cars 62 are placed in the feeder hopper 60 andthe power-take-off shaft 22 is rotated by the tractor or the like tocause the rotation of shaft 20 and shaft 38. As viewed in FIG. 3, boththe rollers 24 and 40 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction and itcan be seen that the pri- -mary roller 24 will have a higher peripheralvelocity than roller 40. When proper position and clearance adjustmentshave been made between the rollers 24 and 40, the corn cars will onlypass to the concave area 66 if they have achieved an orientationparallel to the axes of the two rollers. Such an orientation is achievedby the fact that the peripheral travel of roller 40 is opposite to theperipheral travel of the roller 24, such a relationship tending tostraighten or orient the ear. The fact that the corn ears are suppliedto the concave area 66 only when they have achieved an orientationparallel to the axes of the two rollers results in consistent radialcompressive loading of the corn ears resulting in minimum damage duringshelling. The compressive loading of the corn ears can be controlled byvarying the inflation pressure within the roller 24 and by adjusting theconcave with respect to the roller 24. FIG. 5 illustrates the manner inwhich the corn ears may be compressed'upon the resilient roller 24compressing the ear between the roller and the concave 50. Radialcompressive force applied to the corn ear causes the ear to assume theshape seen in FIG. 5 and it can be seen that the kernels 68 in one rowof kernels are deflected against kernels in adjacent rows to achieve aninteraction between the kernels which aids in loosening the kernels fromthe ear. The interaction of the kernels increases the shelling actionand reduces damage to the kernels since external scratching and scrapingthereof is eliminated. FIG. 6 illustrates the manner in which a row ofkernels 68 may be moved inwardly with respect to the ear upon engagingone of the parallel bars 58. Inward movement of the kernels by the bar58 causes the adjacent kernels to be loosened from the ear due to thefact that the kernel is wider at its outer end and the movement of thekernels toward the center of .the ear tends to loosen the adjacentkernels as seen in FIG. 6.

Thus it can be seen that a unique system has been provided fororientating all of the corn ears prior to application of the loadrequired for shelling. Such orientation is accomplished by the twopneumatic rollers thereby resulting in consistent radial compressiveloading of the corn ears to minimize kernel damage during shelling. Itshould be understood that resilient rollers could be substituted for thepneumatic rollers but the pneumatic rollers are the preferredembodiment. It can also be seen that a unique method has been providedfor loading corn ears so that the magnitude of the applied load iscontrolled rather than attempting to control the size of opening throughwhich the material must pass. This is achieved by the fact that thepneumatic roller 24 has the capacity for deformation under load. Aunique and easily adjustable means of limiting the applied radialcompressive load on the corn cars has also been provided since theapplied load may be easily changed by alteringthe inflation pressure ofthe rollers. The

concave design is such that the members 58 are parallel to anelastically yielding cylindrical roller 24, which in conjunction withthe rolling action of a corn ear between them, provide rapidly repeatingand intermittent radial loading. Such a type of loading significantlyreduces kernel damage and improves shelling efficiency. The machine ofthis invention induces corn shelling with a significantly lower level ofdamage and at an increased shelling efficiency, especially when usedwith corn of relatively high or low moisture contents. It can thereforebe seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its statedobjectives.

lclaim:

l. A com sheller comprising:

a frame means;

a first resilient roller means having a substantially smooth outerperipheral surface which will yieldably deflect in response to pressurebeing applied thereto and being rotatably mounted on said frame meansfor rotation about a horizontal axis; second resilient roller meanshaving a substantially smooth outer peripheral surface which willyieldably deflect in response to pressure being applied thereto andbeing rotatably mounted on said frame means for rotation about ahorizontal axis and being spaced from said first roller means to definea feed opening therebetween; an arcuate concave means on said framemeans extending downwardly from said feed opening in a spacedrelationship with respect to the periphery of said first roller means;

said concave having a plurality of rods extending parallel to therotational axis of said first roller means and being spaced from theperipheral surface of said first roller means so as to define apassageway for ears of corn therebetween; and

power means connected to said first and second roller means for rotatingsaid first and second roller means in the same direction so that theadjacent peripheral surfaces of said roller means are travelling inopposite directions, whereby said rollers will cause an ear of corn tobe oriented with its longitudinal axis parallel to the rotational axesof said rollers and to pass downwardly through said feed opening.

2. A corn sheller comprising:

a frame;

a pneumatic roller rotatably mounted on said frame; said roller having asubstantially smooth peripheral surface which will yieldably deflect inresponse to pressure being applied thereto;

an arcuate concave on said frame means, said concave having a pluralityof rods extending parallel to the rotational axis of said roller andbeing spaced from the peripheral surface of said roller so as to definea possageway for ears of corn therebetween, said passageway having anupper and a lower end;

power means for rotating said roller whereby rotation of said rollerwill cause an ear of corn to pass through said passageway;

the space between said rods and said roller decreasing adjacent saidlower end of said passageway whereby said ear of corn will be subjectedto radial compressive forces between said rods and said roller adjacentsaid lower end of said passageway.

3. A corn sheller according to claim 2 comprising means adjacent saidupper end of said passageway for orienting ears of corn in parallelrelation to said rotational axis of said roller.

4. The corn sheller of claim 3 wherein said means adjacent said upperend of said passageway is a second roller rotatably mounted on saidframe for rotation about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of saidfirst mentioned roller; said first and second rollers being spaced aparta predetermined distance to define a feed opening therebetween; wherebyan ear of corn passing through said feed opening when said first rolleris rotating will en age both of said rollers and be oriented so that thelongitudma axis of said ear Wlll be parallel to the rotational axes ofboth of said rollers.

1. A corn sheller comprising: a frame means; a first resilient rollermeans having a substantially smooth outer peripheral surface which willyieldably deflect in response to pressure being applied thereto andbeing rotatably mounted on said frame means for rotation about ahorizontal axis; a second resilient roller means having a substantiallysmooth outer peripheral surface which will yieldably deflect in responseto pressure being applied thereto and being rotatably mounted on saidframe means for rotation about a horizontal axis and being spaced fromsaid first roller means to define a feed opening therebetween; anarcuate concave means on said frame means extending downwardly from saidfeed opening in a spaced relationship with respect to the periphery ofsaid first roller means; said concave having a plurality of rodsextending parallel to the rotational axis of said first roller means andbeing spaced from the peripheral surface of said first roller means soas to define a passageway for ears of corn therebetween; and power meansconnected to said first and second roller means for rotating said firstand second roller means in the same direction so that the adjacentperipheRal surfaces of said roller means are travelling in oppositedirections, whereby said rollers will cause an ear of corn to beoriented with its longitudinal axis parallel to the rotational axes ofsaid rollers and to pass downwardly through said feed opening.
 2. A cornsheller comprising: a frame; a pneumatic roller rotatably mounted onsaid frame; said roller having a substantially smooth peripheral surfacewhich will yieldably deflect in response to pressure being appliedthereto; an arcuate concave on said frame means, said concave having aplurality of rods extending parallel to the rotational axis of saidroller and being spaced from the peripheral surface of said roller so asto define a possageway for ears of corn therebetween, said passagewayhaving an upper and a lower end; power means for rotating said rollerwhereby rotation of said roller will cause an ear of corn to passthrough said passageway; the space between said rods and said rollerdecreasing adjacent said lower end of said passageway whereby said earof corn will be subjected to radial compressive forces between said rodsand said roller adjacent said lower end of said passageway.
 3. A cornsheller according to claim 2 comprising means adjacent said upper end ofsaid passageway for orienting ears of corn in parallel relation to saidrotational axis of said roller.
 4. The corn sheller of claim 3 whereinsaid means adjacent said upper end of said passageway is a second rollerrotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel tothe rotational axis of said first mentioned roller; said first andsecond rollers being spaced apart a predetermined distance to define afeed opening therebetween; whereby an ear of corn passing through saidfeed opening when said first roller is rotating will engage both of saidrollers and be oriented so that the longitudinal axis of said ear willbe parallel to the rotational axes of both of said rollers.